Hisar ashram violence case: Rampal moves high court

Rampal, head of Satlok Ashram at Barwala near Hisar, has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court to challenge the FIRs (first-information reports) that were registered against him in November 2014 when he was arrested from his dera after violent resistance.

Rampal, head of Satlok Ashram at Barwala near Hisar, has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court to challenge the FIRs (first-information reports) that were registered against him in November 2014 when he was arrested from his dera after violent resistance.

Besides attempt to murder, destroying public property, and violating the Arms Act, he is accused of waging war against the state. Rampal is behind bars currently. The bench of justice Sneh Prashar had on Friday heard his case and adjourned it for further hearing on July 17. The police and paramilitary forces had smoked him out of his ashram in a siege and storming operation costing `27 crore, in which six people were killed and nearly 100 cops were injured.

The high court had ordered his arrest because he had been evading personal appearance in a contempt of court case. Last Thursday, the high court has also dismissed an appeal from the Haryana government challenging the bail granted by a Hisar court to four of his followers booked in the same incident. Because of this, his 400 other supporters who had resisted the police the 2014 siege can also get relief now.